Tuesday, September 4, 2012

TP 211: Weathered and Worn, The Last of It's Kind

Several years ago, a true vacation was just not possible, so we did a couple day trips.
Not a true staycation, because we did leave town, but not the state.  This particular adventure was to check out some sights listed in various Cuirosities of Georgia type books.

About an hour from home, was the last remaining wooden confederate flag pole- dubbed "Old Woody" in the books. Now, I am not that into civil war and am not into flag poles, but thought that we would include that stop in with several other stops.

As we drove around the small town's square, I was unable to locate the flagpole that the book was describing. I parked the car the my sons and a nephew got out to walk around the old courthouse.

How hard could it be to find an old flag pole?!?
No luck, so we entered the courthouse to ask one of the employees.

Funny thing, they had no idea!  Had never heard about it and did not know their town square was listed in several books. I guess we were the first to show or the first unable to figure out a wood flag pole from a not wood flag pole.

As we talked to the ladies in the office, someone walked up that did, indeed, know about the pole and explained why we could not find it: it's encased in concrete to keep it from rotting!!

We headed out to find the pole on the corner. We had walked right by it before and had missed the marker covered by the holy shrubs next to it.



As you can see, my oldest was none to happy to have to pose for a picture by "Old Woody."
While it remains the only standing wooden flag pole from the confederacy, it has only stood the test of time by the casing of cement covering the wooden core. Guess it was getting too weathered and too worn and just did not stand up to the newer aluminum and steel poles used now.

Our trip was not quite complete though, that was just a silly stop along the way.  We continued our journey to find the Cohelee Bridge: the most southerly remaining "kissing bridge" (covered bridge if you will).


What the weather and age has not done, artist have.




No more wooden bridges these days, and I don't believe we need covered bridges to go "kissing" in either. I am glad it has remained. I am glad it shows the workmanship of days gone by, when people built and made things that were to stand the test of time.



And just so you know, I did not make the boys JUST looke at a flag pole and an old "kissing bridge," after burgers we checked out some Indian Mounds too.   




Now that is something that they don't make anymore . . .


Thank you to the host: Carmi!


10 comments:

theMuddledMarketPlace said...

love it!

thanks, they are great
:)

Max Sartin said...

I remember the old covered bridges from growing up in New England. You got some great pictures of it.

Alexia said...

That covered bridge is intriguing. I had read about them but never seen a photo before. Nice shots - and a funny story about the covered-up flagpole!

Bob Scotney said...

Perhaps I'm too old to enjoy the benefits of a kissing bridge but it certainly has worn well.

laurak/ForestWalkArt :) said...

'old woody'...haha! sometimes it can take a pretty long time tracking down those 'oddities'...at least you finally found it!!

i love the old covered bridges!! what character!

the mounds...were they taken at Kolomoki mounds?? we've been to many 'mounds'...but i guess they all start to look the same...huh!

great weathered & worn pictures!

ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© said...

Great bridge, lailani.

I too remember grimacing when forced to pose for family pics. (Once I was old enough to learn that such as was beneath my dignity!)
~

larkswing said...

Thank you all.

Yes, the mounds are Kolomki and I agree, they really do tend to look alike!

A Colorful World said...

I know you must have enjoyed your daytrips....sometimes they are the best kind of vacation! How sad that the flagpole is completely encased! You would think they might have covered three sides and then left the fourth side open with plexiglass so you could at least SEE the wooden pole! I would have been so disappointed! And the covered bridge is wonderful...but again, how sad it is defaced by taggers!

Gilly said...

Lovely shots! Never heard of a covered bridge before - gorgous old colours and textures.

carmilevy said...

Every town should have a square. They'll cherish this experience forever - especially because you've captured it so eloquently here.

I wish the world had more covered bridges, too. Reminds me of a time when people were polite, when saying and doing the right thing to others mattered more than getting there first.